Andre Iguodala and the 10 Most Underrated Overpaid Players in the NBA
The title kinda throws you off, doesn't it?
Well, it shouldn't. It's means exactly what it says. Here is a list of 10 players who are pretty underrated in terms of what they bring to the table, but their play is completely overshadowed by their "terrible" contracts, as these guys are severely overpaid.
However, if you take out their contracts, they'd be more than welcome on any NBA team for their under-the-radar level of play.
10. Elton Brand
1 of 10
Contract: Three years, $50 million
During this time last year, if I told you Elton Brand was underrated, you'd think I'm crazy. However, that doesn't look like a big reach this year, does it?
That's because Brand has revitalized his game and is having a much better year for the Sixers than his debut with the team last year. He's been a dominant rebounder and a decent scorer for the Sixers. However, his contract completely depreciates his entire value. At $50 million for the next three years, Brand is way too overpaid, and I mean WAY too overpaid.
He's a decent big man, though, and if his contract was structured right, he would be one of the most underrated at his position in the league.
9. Jason Terry
2 of 10
Contract: Two years, $21 million
Jason Terry is continually one of the most consistent scorers in the league off the bench. But you never hear about him that much, do you? Well that's because he's paid an atrocious amount of money to come off the bench and just score double-digit points.
Don't get me wrong, Terry is a fantastic spark off the bench, but not at his current price tag.
He's not a very well known defender, and added to that, he's an undersized 2-guard. The only thing Terry does well is score. But boy, is he good at it. He continually is one of the top scorers off the bench and one of the top scorers in the fourth quarter in the entire league. He'd get more recognition if he wasn't as overpaid as he is.
8. Kirk Hinrich
3 of 10
Contract: Two years, $17 million
Kirk Hinrich is about as solid as they come. He's a savvy veteran who knows how to play the game the right way. He can start for teams, come off the bench and be effective either way. He's a great perimeter shooter, an adequate passer and a decent rebounder. He has excellent IQ on the floor and makes all the right plays.
That may all seem dandy, but Hinrich isn't a star point guard, he's simply a "stud" role player. However, he's being paid like a star point guard at over $8 million a year.
Captian Kirk is a solid commodity to have on your team, but certainly not at that price.
7. Antawn Jamison
4 of 10
Contract: Two years, $28 million
Antawn Jamison can still play at a high level, but let's face it, his play does not justify his contract. For someone his age, he can still score and rebound at a high-volume rate, but he's past his prime and All-Star years and is certainly not worth $14 million a year.
Maybe for half that price, Jamison would be a valuable asset to a contending team, as he brings a lot to the table. He's a stretch 4, that can hit the three-ball with consistency. He's an above-average rebounder and can take over on the offensive end for stretches of the game.
However, for all that Jamison can still do, his play still does not justify his contract.
6. Emeka Okafor
5 of 10
Contract: Four years, $50 million
Okafor is one of the most consistent bigs in the league, and is a nightly double-double threat. However, his kind of double-doubles don't justify his contract. I'm sure you would agree that averaging 11 points and 10 rebounds certainly does not warrant a $50 million contract, but that's what Okafor is being paid.
Had Okafor been receiving half his contract, then that would make his value much more reasonable. He would be deemed as one of the most underrated players and big men in the league. After all, he is an elite shot-blocker, as well as rebounder. He's a great defender and a double-digit scorer. He's also a great anchor to have down low on your team.
5. Kevin Martin
6 of 10
Contract: Three years, $34 million
Kevin Martin is one of the best scorers in the game year in and year out. He flat-out knows how to put the ball in the basket. However, as good of a scorer as he is, he's completely one-dimensional and is not worth $33 million for just scoring.
He doesn't know how to lead his team to victories, rather he's just a great spot up and off the pick shooter. On the bright side, he consistently averages over 20+ points per game, and that's certainly a valuable commodity in this league. He'd certainly be more underrated, if not for his terrible contract.
4. Luol Deng
7 of 10
Contract: Four years $50 million
Luol Deng is about as solid of an NBA player as you can find. He does everything well. He's third on the Bulls in scoring and rebounding. Not to mention he's an above-average defender as well.
However, his pay doesn't justify his play. At more than $11 million a year, Luol Deng is paid a bit too much to be a third option.
But if he was paid accordingly to his play, then Deng would be one of the most underrated players in the league. He's one of the best in the league in the mid-range game. He's developed a lethal three-point shot to offset the lack of perimeter scorers on the Bulls. He plays great defense and has immensely improved on that side of the court.
Most of all, he's a great third option. He fits in well with the team, doesn't complain, is always professional, and a guy that every team would LOVE to have, had it not been for his contract.
3. Andre Iguodala
8 of 10
Contract: Four years, $60 million
Iggy is one helluva player. He's a filthy dunker, an adequate jump shooter, and an all-around explosive talent. He's a borderline All-Star talent, however, he's not worth $60 million no matter how you put it. His albatross contract decreases his value, and makes him more overrated than underrated. He's certainly more of the latter.
If Iggy was paid accordingly, he would be one of the most under-appreciated stars in the league and teams would be blowing up the Sixers' phones asking about how they could acquire Iggy. He's that good.
His contract, however, not so much.
2. Monta Ellis
9 of 10
Contract: Four years, $44 million
Ellis is a high-volume scorer who doesn't get nearly enough credit for his ability to put the ball in the basket. He's currently third in the league in scoring, and is a flat-out scoring machine. Even his lack of size doesn't stop Ellis from dominating on the offensive end of the court.
I can't remember the last time a guy like Ellis, who's consistently a top scorer in the league, doesn't even get a day's worth of recognition to be in the All-Star Game. I guess what they say is right, defense wins games.
And that's exactly what Ellis' game lacks. Had he been an elite defender, Ellis would almost surely garner a spot in the big game in February, however he plays in a system where defense is last thing on his team's mind. He's always been taught to "outscore the opponent" and that's what he does. And I can't blame Ellis for that, since that's what he's taught.
However, until Ellis makes improvement on the defensive end of the court and leads the Warriors to the playoffs, he won't justify his $33 million contract.
1. Joe Johnson
10 of 10
Contract: Six years, $121 million
Joe Johnson is a fine player. An All-Star, in fact. However, he's certainly not worth more than LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Amar'e Stoudemire, but his pay says otherwise.
Had Johnson been paid accordingly by the Hawks this summer (somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-11 million), he would have been one of the most valued and underrated players in the league. However, that wasn't the case, as Johnson's contract almost entirely takes away from his "talents"—people can't mention Joe Johnson without mentioning his contract.
However, let's toss out the contract and see Johnson strictly in basketball terms. He's one heck of a player, folks. He's got a lethal jump shot, can score from inside/outside, has decent driving ability, can pass like a point guard, is calm under pressure, and has the ability to hit clutch shots. All of those skills, Joe Joe possesses.
He's the third-best shooting guard in the league behind Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade and has easily been one of the most consistent players over the past half decade.
His contract, sadly, takes away all that.
